HC Deb 28 March 2001 vol 365 cc701-2W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies exist for press officers in his Department on(a) the newsdesk and (b) the proactive press team; what the budgeted size of his Department's press office is; and if he will make a statement. [155818]

Mr. Straw

[holding answer 27 March 2001]: The current number of vacancies is:

  • (a) One—newsdesk
  • (b) Two—proactive press teams

The budget for the Home Office press office for the financial year 2000–01 is approximately £1.6 million based on staffing levels of: five Senior Information Officers, 20 Information Officers, three Assistant Information

Officer trainees, one Chief Immigration Officer, one Higher Executive Officer, seven administrative grades and three senior manages.